Duke Students Recommended Winter Reads

Whilst it is known that Durham’s summers are endlessly long, fall has the best colors, and the cherry blossoms in spring are something out of a picture book –- where's the excitement for a Durham winter? It's always been rumoured that as a Duke undergraduate it will only snow once in your time here (I used mine up freshman year). Here are some books recommended by Duke students that will help you get in the wintery mood (even if it is still 75 degrees as I type this!). 

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - Alice Cavanaugh, class of 2028
“One of the most beautifully written books I have ever read, and one of the books that has stuck with me for many years now. I also really didn’t expect the ending and was highly taken aback by it.”

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
The best way to describe this book would be “eerie” or maybe even "uncomfortable" but, with its constant twists and turns, it is an unmissable read this winter season.The suspense kept me turning every single page quicker than the last, and it’s definitely a contender for a plane/car journey or something to take your mind off impending finals. 

Enigma in room 622 by Joël Dicker - Allie Wolff, class of 2028 
“I love suspense, mystery and the whodunnit genre. I feel like it intrigues me and lets me work out puzzles for myself in real time!” 

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie 
No book can better be described as an indulgent spectacle than this. From the intricate plot, to the endless descriptions of extravagant food and gory crime scenes, this book promises to itch any kind of scratch you may have. What's more is that every time I revisit it I am surprised by something new – there's always a twist I hadn’t quite thought of yet!

Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden - Casey Tebben, class of 2028
“I love how nostalgic this book makes me feel. It’s such a sweet read and instantly gets me into the festive spirit each year! It is definitely a book you can read with all ages, and I really enjoy re-reading it with my family each year.”

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

Rounding out the mystery genre of this suggestions list is possibly my favorite thriller ever. From the author of the new hit Netflix movie The Woman in Cabin 10, we are back in the Scottish highlands (which seems to be a large theme in what I consider a wintery location!). It centers around a family that originally seems to be picture perfect before we start to peel away that facade. Written from the perspective of a nanny awaiting trial for a murder she knows she didn’t commit – but who did? 

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - Madison Hobbs, class of 2028 

“I’m really enjoying working out Dorian’s character right now. He’s the kind of character that I can never make my mind fully up on, but it keeps me questioning him at every turn. Plus the dark Victorian setting always makes me feel highly Christmassey.”

The Holiday Cottage by Sarah Morgan

If you are in need of a potentially more wholesome book to cuddle up with next to a fire this holiday season, this is the book for you! It centers around family and the drama that undoubtedly unfurls every Christmas. It's definitely a romcom and for all the book-tok viewers – it’s a slow burn.

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Olivia Camara, class of 2029 

“It is super glitzy and glamorous on the outside, but it works well to investigate the realities of fame and fortune. It’s a novel you can easily get lost in and that makes it perfect for a slow winter evening during winter break.”

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - Taylor Delgado, class of 2026 

“I love it because it prompts questions about love and agency in biopolitical regime.”

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Incredibly heart-warming and touching, the plot follows Mae who, after a traumatic incident, finds herself back at her family's typical Christmas cabin. There is a strong festive atmosphere throughout the entire novel, and the characters are super endearing and heartwarming. It’s the perfect read if you are trying to step into the holiday spirit. 

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Sallinger - Sarah Sedrish, class of 2028 

“Deeply nostalgic – the coming of age feeling makes for a perfect holiday read.”